Nicole Farhi thought she was going to die when she was mugged outside her home. The French fashion designer - who was choked until she was unconscious during the attack in London in April last year - made the admission yesterday as she gave evidence in the trial of one of the men accused of robbing her.

She said at London’s Wood Green Crown Court: “I walked quickly to my front door. Then I heard some footsteps. The footsteps were very fast and then one hand came onto my eyes and the other onto my throat. He squeezed and I fainted. My last thought was, how stupid to die in front of my house.”

The 62-year-old designer claims she woke up to find the men were taking her £8,000 wedding ring and trying to remove her Rolex watch. The watch had been Nicole’s father’s. When she heard the two men speaking her native French she begged to be allowed to keep the timepiece. She said: “I asked for my watch back because it had sentimental value. I was frightened, obviously. I said to them, ‘Don’t cut me with this knife,’ in French. I said, ‘Don’t cut me, don’t cut me.’ I started speaking louder and louder and they said, ‘Let’s go’, because I was speaking too loud.”

Hearing her speaking, Nicole’s husband Sir David Hare came to the door of their home. He followed the men and was able to note down the registration of the vehicle they used to escape. It is alleged brothers Matthew and Daniel Mykoo performed robberies together in wealthy areas of London between March and June last year. It is claimed Daniel would choke the pair’s victims from behind until they passed out while Matthew held a knife. Matthew would then steal jewellery and other valuables. Matthew, 27, has admitted two counts of robbery but pleaded not guilty to 16. Daniel has admitted 16 counts. The trial of Matthew continues.